Are these options realistic?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I'd like some feedback on how realistic my goals/universities are.. I'm going to be applying to a few business schools and if you guys have any other suggestions as far as Match and Safety Schools go I'd appreciate that too.</p>

<p>A little background on myself: I'm currently 22 years old, US Permanent Resident (Green Card), Hispanic. I went to an American School (K-12) in my home country El Salvador. To be honest I didn't do well in High School. I graduated in Fall 2003. I worked for about 3 years and then got into college, Bemidji State University (Minnesota), and I'm doing great right now and I want to transfer to a good Business School (Finance).</p>

<p>I plan on finishing an Associate of Arts Degree (2 year degree with all Liberal Education/General Requirement - 64 Credits) this Fall 2007 and Transfer Fall 2008 (I think I have better chances of getting admitted and some schools don't accept in Spring so that's why I'm going for Fall) and I plan on working on Spring 2008/Summer 2008 (but I'm open to options)</p>

<p>-High School Graduating GPA: 82/100
-Class Rank: 50%
-SAT: 800/1600
-I didn't take any honors or AP courses, as far as Math goes I took Calculus and received an A on it.</p>

<p>-Current College GPA: 4.0 (and I plan on keeping it)
-Relevant Completed Courses: College Writing I, College Writing II, Accounting I, Business Stats I, Pre-Calculus
-Courses to Complete: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Calculus I, Applied Statistics, Accounting II
(I could complete some others if necessary while I work in Spring 2008/Summer 2008)</p>

<p>So basically where I'm at right now is: I know I didn't do great in High School, but I'm hoping that my current college grades (Grade Trend) and my extracurricular activities help me out.</p>

<p>One of the biggest obstacles that I've faced while choosing Universities that I'm going to be applying to is the fact that each University has different Pre-Requisites as far as their Business Program goes so you can go into their school of business directly as a Junior. This means that I have less Schools I can apply too because it would be nearly impossible, time consuming, and inefficient to fulfill ALL the Pre-Requisites of ALL the Universities that I want to apply to.</p>

<p>For example these are the variables some Universities ask:
-UPenn Wharton: Calculus II and Stats I/Stats II (WITH CALCULUS PRE-REQUISITE - My University doesn't offer Stats with Calc Pre-Req)
-UVA: Intro to Business
-UC Berkley: A bunch of Lib Eds that I haven't taken (Breadth)
-MIT: one year of college calculus and calculus-based physics, and one semester each of chemistry and biology
---Just to show some examples---</p>

<p>If I wanted to fulfill all of those it would take me more than one semester to complete. So I've gathered up the Universities that I fulfill their Pre-Requisites or the ones that are more lenient on that matter.</p>

<p>My Curriculum:</p>

<p>Extra:
Languages: Spanish (100%), English (100%), Italian (50%)</p>

<p>Intensive Italian Course in Italy (2001)</p>

<p>Philosophy Club (Fall 2006 – To Date)</p>

<p>Trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Lotus Corporation (2000)
Prize for website design, Represented El Salvador</p>

<hr>

<p>Work Experience:
Sputnik Productions (2003 – To Date)
Artist Management, Booking Agency, Event Production/Promotion, General Manager</p>

<p>BellSouth DSL Tech Support Call Center (Teleperformance) (April 2005 – May 2006)
San Salvador, El Salvador
DSL/Networking Training, Started: Level 1 Tech, Concluded: Level 2, Inbound calls from USA</p>

<p>USAirways.com Call Center (Atento, Telefonica) (November 2004 – April 2005)
San Salvador, El Salvador
Website/SABRE training, Tech support US clients, Helpdesk Team, Supervisor Assistant</p>

<p>Internship: St. Jude Medical - IT Department – St. Paul, MN (Summer of 2002)
Web-Page development, Help Desk assistance, installation of infrastructure, among others</p>

<hr>

<p>Volunteer/Leadership Activities:</p>

<p>Evergreen Recovery House - Bemidji, Minnesota (Volunteer in Rehab for Addictions) Summer 2007 - On</p>

<p>Health & Wellness Meeting - Bemidji, Minnesota (Chair of Meeting) Fall 2006 - Spring 2007</p>

<p>Teletόn – El Salvador (National Fundraiser – Children with Disabilities) Jan 2003 & Jan 2004</p>

<p>Deaf-Mute School – El Salvador (Teacher’s Aid) Fall 2002 – Spring 2003</p>

<p>Earthquake Relief – El Salvador January – March 2001</p>

<hr>

<p>These are my options that I have fulfilled their Pre-Requisites. I'd like to know if they are reachable for me and what other options I could have for Match/Safety Schools.</p>

<p>University of Minnesota
University of Virginia
University of Michigan
Georgetown
Villanova
University of North Carolina
Babson
Boston University
Tulane
Wake Forest
Carnegie Mellon
Lehigh</p>

2

<p>Let me just say: no one cares about extracurriculars for transfers. Its good, but its not the deciding factor; and no one cares that u speak 50% italian, thats just dumb.</p>

<p>With that in mind:
Minnesota = safety/match
Michigan = match
Tulane = match
Vilanova = match</p>

<p>and these are your reaches/ very low reaches:
University of Virginia
Georgetown
University of North Carolina
Babson
Boston University
Wake Forest
Carnegie Mellon
Lehigh</p>

3

<p>You think a 4.0 is not good enough due to my HS History?</p>

<p>I thought they looked at your grade trends....</p>

<p>Thanks for taking your time to respond.</p>

4

<p>Not only for the sake of the schools that will require it, but for your own good you should work on the SAT and retake it if you want to get into and excel at those top schools.</p>

<p>4.0 GPA is excellent but is from a CC. Keep up the good work and challenge yourself! </p>

<p>ECs do help, but aren't the main factor. Academics (GPA / test scores) are huge for sophomore transfers, and SAT scores gradually lose importance as you are in college longer.</p>

5

<p>a 4.0 will get you at most state schools, but privates not so much because they require SAT scores. UVa acts like a private school esp for out of staters. And just because you have a 4.0, doesnt mean u are going to get in. If you lived in california, you would most likely get into schools like UCLA and stuff (since they dont look at your high school record/sat scores), but since i think you live in minnesota, your chances at other schools are very limited and slim. It'll come down to the essay. Also, since you are going to wait a year to apply (you said you plan to finish in the fall of 07, and will apply for the fall of 08) that will also limit your chances if you are still taking classes, as schools cap the amount of units you can take (normally, anything above 75 is not allowed). And if you decided not to take any classes, that might also look bad if you are not doing anything productive with your time.</p>

<p>Good luck anyways, im sure you will find something.</p>

6

<p>Thanks again.</p>

<p>Yes, I'm really in a dilemma... if I continue taking classes it would be useless because they won't transfer making it a waste of money, so I think the most logical thing to do is work for 8 months or so while Fall semester comes in. You think they wouldn't see working 8 months as being productive?</p>

7

<p>I think that's a very good idea. You are right a/b the credits - most schools won't take more than 60. Work always looks good and makes you appear very mature.</p>

8

<p>"You think a 4.0 is not good enough due to my HS History?</p>

<p>I thought they looked at your grade trends....</p>

<p>Thanks for taking your time to respond."</p>

<p>i don't think your 4.0 is good enough for many schools because you haven't even taken any challenging courses yet.</p>

9

<p>"i don't think your 4.0 is good enough for many schools because you haven't even taken any challenging courses yet."</p>

<p>What would you consider challenging courses?</p>

<p>The courses I've listed where the ones that could be relevant to Business Schools.</p>

<p>Other Courses I've taken:
POL 1100 Understanding Politics
POL 1400 Intr Comparative Politics
PHIL 1100 Intro To Philosophy
HLTH 3400 Health & Drugs In Society
PHIL 2250 Human Nature</p>

10

<p>^^ well that's all fantabulous and all, but i hope you're preparing to hone your math skills before you apply. keep in mind, most business majors applying to the schools you're interested in have far superceded the minimum mathematics requirement. you'll want to at least complete the calculus series, and taking an intro course to linear algebra wouldn't be a bad idea. do you know how competitive it's getting for business majors today? you really need to step it up with the course you wish to take.</p>

11

<p>Calculus 1... will be taken during the fall. I could def take 1 or 2 courses during Spring 2008 while I work if that could give me a boost.</p>

<p>When you say complete the Calculus Series are you saying I should take Calc II ?</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
but i hope you're preparing to hone your math skills before you apply

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Exactly. I think, more than anything, colleges love to see Math and Science classes as they seem to be something people stray away from unless that's their major. I had a very competitive courseload when I applied and felt that my mathematics classes were the most impressive. If you want to get an adcom's attention, take and do well in several math classes (not stats, btw).</p>

13

<p>By calculus series, i mean four quarters or three semesters worth (the entire system). also take intro to linear algebra. like brand said, this is the best thing you can do for a transcript to get an adcom's attention. a 4.0 means nothing if you dont take a challenging curriculum.</p>

14

<p>I know that I have to work on some Math, I think I'll do that in Spring 2008 take 1-2 Math courses. How about my Liberal Education courses you guys think they look good?</p>

<p>I've also taken Accounting I and Business Stats I -- which weren't easy at all.. I also plan on taking Accounting II, Micro, Macroeconomics.....</p>

<p>Does it look good now? Or not? If you think not, which areas could I improve?</p>

<pre><code>***** Undergraduate Academic Record *****

***** Bemidji State University *****

</code></pre>

<p>Summer 2006<br>
Major: Business Administration<br>
ENGL 1101 College Writing I 3.00 A 3.00 3.00 12.00<br>
ENGL 1102 College Writing II 3.00 A 3.00 3.00 12.00<br>
PHED 1890 Lifetime Fitness 2.00 A 2.00 2.00 8.00<br>
POL 1100 Understanding Politics 3.00 A 3.00 3.00 12.00 </p>

<p>Fall 2006<br>
POL 1400 Intr Comparative Politics 3.00 A 3.00 3.00 12.00<br>
PHIL 1100 Intro To Philosophy 3.00 A 3.00 3.00 12.00<br>
MATH 0800 Intermediate Algebra 3.00 A 0.00 3.00 12.00<br>
HLTH 3400 Health & Drugs In Society 2.00 A 2.00 2.00 8.00<br>
UNIV 1190 First Yr Experience Sem 1.00 A 1.00 1.00 4.00 </p>

<p>Spring 2007<br>
MUS 3130 History Of Rock And Roll 2.00 A 2.00 2.00 8.00<br>
PHIL 2250 Human Nature 3.00 A 3.00 3.00 12.00<br>
ACCT 1101 Prin Of Accounting I 3.00 A 3.00 3.00 12.00<br>
MATH 1470 Precalculus 5.00 A 5.00 5.00 20.00<br>
BUAD 2231 Business Statistics I 3.00 A 3.00 3.00 12.00 </p>

<p>Summer 2007<br>
SCI 1110 Physical Science I 4.00 Z 0.00 0.00 0.00<br>
SCI 1120 Physical Science II 4.00 Z 0.00 0.00 0.00<br>
ECON 2000 Markets & Resource Alloc (Micro-Econ) 3.00 Z 0.00 0.00 0.00<br>
ECON 2100 Macroecon & Bus Cycle 3.00 Z 0.00 0.00 0.00 </p>

<p>Fall 2007<br>
MATH 2471 Calculus I 5.00 Z 0.00 0.00 0.00<br>
MATH 2610 Applied Statistics 4.00 Z 0.00 0.00 0.00<br>
BUAD 2925 People/Env-Business Persp 3.00 Z 0.00 0.00 0.00<br>
ACCT 1102 Prin Of Accounting II 3.00 Z 0.00 0.00 0.00</p>

<p>Also, on another subject... which safety schools could you guys recommend with my profile?</p>

15

<p>I am going to be very honest. I do not think you should shoot for schools like Georgetown, Lehigh, Carnegie Mellon. I am not trying to be mean, I am just trying to be realistic and perhaps save you some money. While it may seem "impressive" that you have a 4.0, classes like fitness and intermediate algebra define a relatively weak course load. The problem I think you will have is that they will see an 800 combined SAT score and a 4.0 at college and immediately will think something is up. Doesn't that seem awkward, to say the least, to you? No to mention, graduating 82/100 is also eye catching, but not in a good way. </p>

<p>If you notice, the higher tier school Calculus I, II, Differential Equations, and higher math courses... You should have taken those courses instead of intermediate algebra...Anyway, didn't you say you took Calc. I in high school? Why did you drop down to some algebra class that isnt' linear algebra instead of taking Calc. II? Also, taking precalculus when you have already taken calculus is taking the easy way out. It looks like you took courses you know you could get an A, just so you could have a 4.0 and look at schools like MIT...</p>

<p>I am sorry, but if I can see this, I am quite certain they can... So to answer your question, most of the schools you listed will not be realistic.</p>

16

<p>
[quote]
Let me just say: no one cares about extracurriculars for transfers. Its good, but its not the deciding factor; and no one cares that u speak 50% italian, thats just dumb.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Dude..that's so rude and unnecessary.</p>

17

<p>@tdjr21</p>

<p>I totally see the point you are trying to make. Let me explain a little bit.</p>

<p>Why did I take Intermediate Algebra?
Like I said before, when I got into College AGAIN, after High School it had been 3 years since I had been in classroom. So... I had to take a Placement test after 3 years of not studying and 3 years of not doing Math. I don't think anyone with that history (3 years of working and not studying) could do good on a placement test, that's why I has "sent" to Int Algebra.</p>

<p>Why did I take Lifetime Fitness?
My school has a Phy-Ed requirement (In their Lib-Ed) that's why I took it, all Phy-Eds look easy... but hey, I had to take one, I took the most interesting one.</p>

<p>I can understand where you are coming from tdjr21, but to be honest it does make sense to me, and having a 4.0 is not easy in any institution, I have changed a great deal from when I was in HS... then I worked for 3 years and now I'm in college.. I think they can see a good grade trend in me. That's how I see it. I've changed for the better, I don't know if I can give this impression to the adcom's I hope I can.. probably it's harder than I thought since you guys don't see it that way, it will be harder to impress them.</p>

<p>But hey Classes like:
POL 1100 Understanding Politics
POL 1400 Intr Comparative Politics
PHIL 1100 Intro To Philosophy
PHIL 2250 Human Nature
ACCT 1101 Prin Of Accounting I
BUAD 2231 Business Statistics I
ECON 2000 Markets & Resource Alloc
ECON 2100 Macroecon & Bus Cycle </p>

<p>Don't they seem tough? To be honest they seemed tough to me.. Politics, Philosophy (phil is not an easy subject), business stats, micro/macro -econ.. </p>

<p>The only elective I'd say WASNT tough, but it seemed so interesting that I wanted to take was History of Rock and Roll, but besides that one.... Lifetime Fitness I had to take a Phy-Ed requirement.. and Algebra it was the placement test.. I wasn't ready for Math.. that's the truth... I hope that the fact that I didn't do too well in HS doesn't come an haunt me THAT BAD!</p>

<p>Thanks for your time, it's appreciated.</p>

18

<p>
[quote]
But hey Classes like:
POL 1100 Understanding Politics
POL 1400 Intr Comparative Politics
PHIL 1100 Intro To Philosophy
PHIL 2250 Human Nature
ACCT 1101 Prin Of Accounting I
BUAD 2231 Business Statistics I
ECON 2000 Markets & Resource Alloc
ECON 2100 Macroecon & Bus Cycle </p>

<p>Don't they seem tough?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That's the difficult part: it's hard for others to determine whether a class really was challenging or not. IMO, the only classes that stand out as challenging in your courseload are Acct. I, Business Stats, and your two Econ courses. </p>

<p>As for ppl asking why you took Intermediate Algebra, that's a very stupid question. Many people need to prepare for college level math by taking the remedial courses, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But if there's anything I can recommend to you, if you want into top schools you'll want to beef your transcript up by really challenging yourself. The main subjects that seem to do that are math and science - accounting and economics also worked well for mine.</p>

19

<p>When you guys say "CC" you mean Community College right?</p>

<p>I'm not in a Community College (If that's what you mean) I am at a State University. Bemidji State University.</p>

<p>Thanks again.</p>

20

<p>yeah sorry I thought you were at first b/c you mentioned completing an associate of arts, but went back and saw you are at a state school.</p>